The museum is the result of the designation of World Heritage status for the archaeological sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca in the year 2000. The huge volume of scientific information furnished from the excavations every year and the eagerness of the research team co-directors to share their findings with the wider public reflect the close relationship between the archaeological sites and the museum, and with the villages in the Atapuerca Cultural Space some 15 kilometres from Burgos.
This project, which combines science and public dissemination within a cultural context, is the great contribution of the Autonomous Community of Castille-León to international knowledge on the subject of human evolution. The city’s contribution consisted of pledging its support for the initiative and offering the historic Solar de Caballería site for conversion into the Evolution Cultural Centre. The architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg has created a bold design which springs from a firm commitment to nature, archaeology and the landscape of the Sierra. These elements are evident in the way the different volumes are articulated and in the clearly defined educational areas of the museum.